EDUCATION, history and business formed part of a whistle-stop tour of the region for a Royal visitor today (Wednesday, October 8).

The Duke of Kent dropped in to formally open a new school, a new energy facility and a restored kitchen garden.

The kitchen garden, at Preston Park Museum and Grounds, in Stockton, has been restored thanks to an Army of volunteers.

The Duke, 78, was joined during his visit to Teesside by Councillor Barbara Inman, the mayor of Stockton.

She said: “So much hard work has gone into its restoration and all of the staff and volunteers who have made this happen should be very proud of what they’ve achieved.

“It’s hard to believe that until recently, what is now a beautiful garden with its restored glass houses and head gardener’s bothy was overgrown and closed to the public.”

Preston Park Museum and Grounds is Stockton’s primary visitor attraction and with more than 600,000 people every year.

The Duke also opened SITA's new energy from waste facility in Billingham that will allow councils to significantly reduce their reliance on landfill by turning their residual waste into electricity.

Construction of the facility began in September 2011 and was completed in April this year.

More than 1,800 skilled professionals were employed during the building period, with a further 42 full-time, permanent jobs created to operate the facility.

The Duke finished his visit by officially opening the new £11m Whitworth Park School and Sixth Form in Spennymoor, where he was greeted by a brass band.

The new site is an amalgamation of the former Spennymoor Comprehensive and Tudhoe Grange schools with more than 1,000 students on one site in a state-of-the art building.

Headteacher Paul Gillis said: “With our wonderful new building complete and older parts of the school refurbished to a high standard, the young people of Spennymoor and its surroundings now have a superb environment in which to work, study and socialise.

“We are honoured that HRH The Duke of Kent is taking the time in his busy schedule to perform the official opening. It will be a momentous day for the local community and everyone associated with the school, both now and in the future.”

The Royal guest spoke to the students in the auditorium before unveiling the new plaque.

“What a great pleasure it has been to come to this wonderful school," he said. "You are all very lucky to have this new building. It is clear you are going to achieve a great deal and I wish you all enormous success for the future.”